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Journal of Voice : Official Journal of... Dec 2023Vocal fold fat injection is a technique for treating glottic insufficiency (GI) resulting from various conditions. The use of fat as a graft has several advantages over... (Review)
Review
UNLABELLED
Vocal fold fat injection is a technique for treating glottic insufficiency (GI) resulting from various conditions. The use of fat as a graft has several advantages over other grafts. Similar pliability, and vibratory characteristics as a normal vocal fold, not causing foreign body reactions, having the potential to contain stem cells, and often can be done in the office. Long-term results, however, are unpredictable. The objective of this study is to carry out a systematic review of published articles using the technique of fat injection in the vocal folds.
STUDY DESIGN
Systematic review.
REVIEW METHODS
A literature search was conducted utilizing the combination of the following keywords "vocal folds fat injection," "laryngoplasty," and "autologous fat injection vocal folds." The criteria inclusion of the study for the systematic review were based on PICOTS (population, intervention, comparison outcome, timing, and setting) and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses statements. Outcomes reviewed included technique, study duration, perceptual and acoustic analysis, and quality of life preoperation and 1-year postoperation.
RESULTS
A systematic review on PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases included 13 studies analyzing the data of 472 patients, that had fat injection laryngoplasty for treatment of GI. The causes of GI varied substantially across studies. Considerable heterogeneity across studies was found, including technique for harvest, processing the fat, site of injection, and acoustic analysis. In the studies that measured maximum phonation time (MPT) there was a significant improvement in a follow-up of at least 1 year after the injection. The patient's perception of vocal quality, measured by the Voice Handicap Index, also showed significant improvement in several studies after fat injection laryngoplasty.
CONCLUSION
Fat injection laryngoplasty seems to be safe and effective for GI for at least 12 months. Multiple studies show favorable outcomes, but the lack of control groups, the heterogeneity in inclusion criteria, nonstandardized techniques, and objective voice evaluations limit this evaluation.
PubMed: 38142186
DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2023.09.029 -
Journal of Voice : Official Journal of... Jul 2023Caffeine is considered a dehydrating agent due to its diuretic effects and influences the body's fluid balance. The relationship between voice and hydration has been...
BACKGROUND
Caffeine is considered a dehydrating agent due to its diuretic effects and influences the body's fluid balance. The relationship between voice and hydration has been widely investigated and it is accepted that inadequate hydration has detrimental effects on phonation. Since dehydration negatively affects the vocal folds and caffeine is considered a dehydrating agent, it can be hypothesized that voice might be negatively affected by caffeine intake. This systematic review aims to summarize and appraise the available evidence regarding the effects of caffeine on voice.
METHODS
Randomized and non-randomized experimental studies of healthy participants were retrieved following an electronic searching of six databases in June 2020. No publication, language or date restrictions were applied. Data extraction of relevant data and risk of bias assessment was conducted independently by two reviewers.
RESULTS
Five non-randomized experimental studies were deemed eligible for inclusion. The format of the administered interventions in the included studies was either liquid (coffee) or solid (caffeine tablets). Reported outcome measures used to examine the effects of caffeine on phonation consisted of acoustic, aerodynamic and (auditory & self-) perceptual. No measures were adversely affected by caffeine consumption.
CONCLUSION
Clinicians commonly advise patients to refrain from caffeine, as caffeine intake increases diuresis with subsequent effects on fluid balance. Such imbalances can potentially induce dehydration which can be detrimental to phonation. This notion cannot be supported empirically, as the evidence is deemed unreliable and no firm conclusions can be elicited to guide clinical practice. The results of this review demonstrate the lack of research in the field and the necessity for future investigations in order to inform evidence-based practice through reliable and valid outcomes.
Topics: Humans; Caffeine; Voice Quality; Dehydration; Voice; Phonation; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 33752928
DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2021.02.025 -
The Journal of Laryngology and Otology Nov 2023To evaluate the outcomes of reinnervation techniques for the treatment of adult unilateral vocal fold paralysis and bilateral vocal fold paralysis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the outcomes of reinnervation techniques for the treatment of adult unilateral vocal fold paralysis and bilateral vocal fold paralysis.
METHODS
A literature review was conducted in the Embase and Medline databases in English, with no limitations on the publication date. The outcome parameters of interest included visual, subjective perceptual, acoustic, aerodynamic analysis and electromyography. A meta-analysis with a random-effects model and inverse variance was calculated.
RESULTS
The systematic Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses approach resulted in 27 studies, totalling 803 patients (747 unilateral cases and 56 bilateral cases). Thyroid cancer and/or surgery had caused unilateral vocal fold paralysis in 74.8 per cent of cases and bilateral vocal fold paralysis in 69.6 per cent of cases. Statistically significant improvements in patients were observed for voice, deglutition and decannulation (bilateral vocal fold paralysis). Meta-analysis of 10 reinnervation techniques was calculated for the maximum phonation time of 184 patients.
CONCLUSION
Reinnervation was shown to improve voice, swallowing and decannulation, but studies lacked control groups, limiting generalisability. Larger studies with controls are needed.
PubMed: 37982255
DOI: 10.1017/S0022215123001950 -
Journal of Voice : Official Journal of... Dec 2023This systematic review aims to explore the effectiveness of voice health education interventions among singers, particularly focusing on vocal hygiene treatment programs... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
This systematic review aims to explore the effectiveness of voice health education interventions among singers, particularly focusing on vocal hygiene treatment programs tailored for professional voice users.
STUDY DESIGN
Systematic review.
METHODS
Preferred Reporting Items on Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines were followed to conduct this systematic review. Comprehensive searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, and Cochrane Library databases. Four articles were selected for detailed review. The studies were evaluated using the Effective Public Health Practice Project tool for quality assessment.
RESULTS
The four reviewed studies primarily utilized the pretest-posttest design to examine the effectiveness of vocal hygiene interventions on singers' vocal health. Two studies investigated the effect of hydration as a treatment method, while the remaining two focused on vocal hygiene instruction. Significant improvements were observed in various vocal health parameters, including maximum phonation time, intensity, Dysphonia Severity Index, and number of daily vocal breaks taken.
CONCLUSION
This systematic review provides valuable insights into the efficacy of vocal hygiene treatment programs for singers. The positive outcomes observed in the reviewed studies underscore the importance of voice health education tailored to singers' specific needs. However, the limited number of eligible studies and the common limitation of small sample sizes highlight the need for further research in this area. Vocal health practitioners, educators, and researchers can utilize the findings of this review to develop evidence-based vocal hygiene interventions that promote the well-being and longevity of singers' vocal performance careers.
PubMed: 38052688
DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2023.10.028 -
European Archives of... Jul 2023This scoping review aims to synthesize all of the currently available information on how xerostomia correlates with vocal function and the mechanisms that underpin it. (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
This scoping review aims to synthesize all of the currently available information on how xerostomia correlates with vocal function and the mechanisms that underpin it.
METHODS
Our scoping review used PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases to review articles published between January 1999 and July 2022 in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. In addition to the academic databases, we also conducted a manual search of Google Scholar. Further investigation was conducted on studies that examined the relationship between xerostomia and vocal function.
RESULTS
Of the 682 initially identified articles, 21 met our inclusion criteria. Among the included studies, two articles (n = 2) revealed the mechanistic relationship between xerostomia and vocal function. Most studies (n = 12) focused on xerostomia secondary to other underlying conditions or treatments, among which radiotherapy and Sjögren's syndrome were commonly investigated. Seven studies (n = 7) provided details about common vocal parameters measured in studies of xerostomia and the voice.
CONCLUSION
The literature currently lacks publications regarding the relationship between xerostomia and vocal function. Most of the studies included in this review were about xerostomia secondary to other conditions or medical treatments. Therefore, the impacts on the voice that were observed were very multifaceted and the role of xerostomia alone in phonation could not be ascertained. Nevertheless, it is clear that dryness in the mouth plays some role in vocal function and further research should focus on clarifying and finding the underlying mechanism behind this relationship by incorporating high-speed imaging and cepstral peak prominence analyses.
Topics: Humans; Voice Quality; Xerostomia; Sjogren's Syndrome; Phonation; Voice
PubMed: 36995371
DOI: 10.1007/s00405-023-07941-x -
Clinical Otolaryngology : Official... Sep 2023This systematic review and meta-analysis examines if intralaryngeal injection of basic fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) can improve voice outcomes in those with vocal... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVES
This systematic review and meta-analysis examines if intralaryngeal injection of basic fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) can improve voice outcomes in those with vocal disability.
DESIGN
A Systematic review of original human studies reporting voice outcomes following intra-laryngeal injection of basic fibroblast growth factor 2 in those with vocal dysfunction. Databases searched were Medline (1946-July 2022), Embase (1947-July 2022), Cochrane database and Google Scholar.
SETTING
Secondary or tertiary care centres that undertook the management of voice pathology Hospital.
PARTICIPANTS
Inclusion criteria were original human studies reporting voice outcome measurements following intralaryngeal injection of FGF2 to treat vocal fold atrophy, vocal fold scarring, vocal fold sulcus or vocal fold palsy. Articles not written in English, studies that did not include human subjects and studies where voice outcome measures were not recorded before and after FGF2 injection were excluded from the review.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
The primary outcome measure was maximum phonation time. Secondary outcome measures included acoustic analysis, glottic closure, mucosal wave formation, voice handicap index and GRBAS scale.
RESULTS
Fourteen articles were included out of a search of 1023 and one article was included from scanning reference lists. All studies had a single arm design without control groups. Conditions treated were vocal fold atrophy (n = 186), vocal cord paralysis (n = 74), vocal fold fibrosis (n = 74) and vocal fold sulcus (n = 56). A meta-analysis of six articles reporting on the use of FGF2 in patients with vocal fold atrophy showed a significant increase of mean maximum phonation time of 5.2 s (95% CI: 3.4-7.0) at 3-6 months following injection. A significant improvement in maximum phonation time, voice handicap index and glottic closure was found following injection in most studies assessed. No major adverse events were reported following injection.
CONCLUSIONS
To date, intralaryngeal injection of basic FGF2 appears to be safe and it may be able to improve voice outcomes in those with vocal dysfunction, especially vocal fold atrophy. Randomised controlled trials are needed to further evaluate efficacy and support the wider use of this therapy.
Topics: Humans; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; Plastic Surgery Procedures; Vocal Cord Paralysis; Laryngeal Diseases; Atrophy
PubMed: 37246756
DOI: 10.1111/coa.14073 -
PloS One 2024Deep brain stimulation (DBS) reliably ameliorates cardinal motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD) and essential tremor (ET). However, the effects of DBS on speech,...
BACKGROUND
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) reliably ameliorates cardinal motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD) and essential tremor (ET). However, the effects of DBS on speech, voice and language have been inconsistent and have not been examined comprehensively in a single study.
OBJECTIVE
We conducted a systematic analysis of literature by reviewing studies that examined the effects of DBS on speech, voice and language in PD and ET.
METHODS
A total of 675 publications were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, CINHAL, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Scopus databases. Based on our selection criteria, 90 papers were included in our analysis. The selected publications were categorized into four subcategories: Fluency, Word production, Articulation and phonology and Voice quality.
RESULTS
The results suggested a long-term decline in verbal fluency, with more studies reporting deficits in phonemic fluency than semantic fluency following DBS. Additionally, high frequency stimulation, left-sided and bilateral DBS were associated with worse verbal fluency outcomes. Naming improved in the short-term following DBS-ON compared to DBS-OFF, with no long-term differences between the two conditions. Bilateral and low-frequency DBS demonstrated a relative improvement for phonation and articulation. Nonetheless, long-term DBS exacerbated phonation and articulation deficits. The effect of DBS on voice was highly variable, with both improvements and deterioration in different measures of voice.
CONCLUSION
This was the first study that aimed to combine the outcome of speech, voice, and language following DBS in a single systematic review. The findings revealed a heterogeneous pattern of results for speech, voice, and language across DBS studies, and provided directions for future studies.
Topics: Deep Brain Stimulation; Humans; Parkinson Disease; Speech; Voice; Language; Essential Tremor
PubMed: 38728329
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302739 -
The Laryngoscope Jun 2024Adenotonsillectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures performed on children. Caregivers are often concerned about voice change after the procedure, and such... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
Adenotonsillectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures performed on children. Caregivers are often concerned about voice change after the procedure, and such concerns remain unsettled. This meta-analysis analyzed voice change in children after adenotonsillectomy.
DATA SOURCES
The PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases.
REVIEW METHODS
The study protocol was registered on PROSPERO. Two authors independently searched for articles using keywords "adenoidectomy," "tonsillectomy, "voice," "nasalance,"and "speech." English articles specifying voice changes after adenotonsillectomy were pooled with standardized mean difference (SMD) using random-effects model. Evaluation methods were computerized acoustic voice analysis, aerodynamic analysis, nasometer, rhinomanometry, evaluations from a speech-language pathologist or otolaryngologist, and a caregiver assessment questionnaire.
RESULTS
Twenty-three studies with 2154 children were analyzed (mean age: 8.0 y; 58% boys; mean sample size: 94 children). Due to insufficient data for other outcome variables, this meta-analysis only summarized changes in the computerized acoustic voice analysis 1 month and 3 months after surgery. The computerized acoustic analysis revealed significant changes in jitter (SMD = -0.36; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.60 to -0.11), shimmer (SMD = -0.34; 95% CI: -0.57 to -0.11), and soft phonation index (SMD = -0.36; 95% CI: -0.57 to -0.15) at 1 month after surgery. Parameters including fundamental frequency, jitter, noise-to-harmonics ratio, and shimmer were not significantly changed at 3 months after surgery.
CONCLUSIONS
This meta-analysis observed small improvements in jitter, shimmer, and soft phonation index 1 month after surgery. No significant effects were observed in voice outcomes 3 months after surgery. Laryngoscope, 134:2538-2550, 2024.
Topics: Humans; Tonsillectomy; Adenoidectomy; Child; Voice Quality; Voice Disorders; Female; Male; Postoperative Complications
PubMed: 37909678
DOI: 10.1002/lary.31140 -
Folia Phoniatrica Et Logopaedica :... 2024Diabetes mellitus type 2 is a growing health concern that affects several systems in the body, among which is the phonatory apparatus. Voice may be affected in view of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
INTRODUCTION
Diabetes mellitus type 2 is a growing health concern that affects several systems in the body, among which is the phonatory apparatus. Voice may be affected in view of the high prevalence of myopathy and neuropathy in diseased subjects. The authors aimed to answer the following question: does type 2 diabetes have an effect on voice?
METHODS
The systematic review included search terms such as "speech, voice, larynx, glucose, diabetes, and hyperglycemia." The search strategy yielded 221 articles, only five of which satisfied the inclusion criteria. Articles were considered for inclusion using the PRISMA method. Analysis included 321 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 171 controls. All studies included were case-control studies except for one study which was an observational cohort. Six parameters were chosen as endpoints for the systematic review and meta-analysis: the presence/absence of voice complaints, fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, noise-to-harmonic ratio, and maximum phonation time.
RESULTS
There was no significant difference in the prevalence of voice complaints (i.e., hoarseness) between diabetic patients and control groups. There was also no significant difference in any of the acoustic and aerodynamic measures between patients with type 2 diabetes and controls. These findings can be ascribed to the high resilience of the laryngeal muscles to the adverse effect of systemic diseases.
CONCLUSION
There is no consensus in the literature that the prevalence of voice symptoms in diabetic patients is significantly higher than that reported in healthy subjects.
Topics: Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Humans; Voice Disorders; Phonation; Voice Quality; Case-Control Studies
PubMed: 37757764
DOI: 10.1159/000534271 -
European Archives of... Jul 2024Since new evidence regarding the impact of Wendler glottoplasty (WG) on the voice in transgender women became available in the literature in recent years, we aimed to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
PURPOSE
Since new evidence regarding the impact of Wendler glottoplasty (WG) on the voice in transgender women became available in the literature in recent years, we aimed to perform an updated systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the actual safety and efficacy of WG in the process of vocal feminization.
METHODS
PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane were searched for English-language articles published until July 4, 2023. Studies were found eligible if they evaluated the impact of WG on the acoustic-aerodynamic measures and quality of voice in transgender women.
RESULTS
Twenty-three studies were identified. After exclusion of three studies due to incomplete data, 20 studies including 656 patients were included in the meta-analysis. After WG, there was a significant increase of fundamental frequency, speaking fundamental frequency, and lower limit of the frequency range (p < 0.001). Concurrently, a significant reduction of frequency range and maximum phonation time was observed (p < 0.001). No significant differences were found between the pre- and postoperative values regarding the Grade, Roughness, Breathiness, Asthenia, and Strain scale score (p = 0.339). The overall score in the Trans Woman Voice Questionnaire (TWVQ) significantly improved after WG (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
WG is an effective voice feminization method in transgender women, associated with a high procedural success and low risk of postoperative complications. Significantly improved TWVQ score after surgery suggests its positive impact on the voice-related quality of life. Postoperative decrease of maximum phonation time and frequency range does not seem to significantly impact the effectiveness of voice production.
Topics: Female; Humans; Male; Glottis; Laryngoplasty; Speech Acoustics; Transgender Persons; Voice Quality
PubMed: 38315177
DOI: 10.1007/s00405-024-08486-3